The Rangers tame St. Philip’s Tigers

Communication design sophomore Bea Garcia celebrates with communications sophomore Shannon Villanueva during a timeout called after Villanueva’s seventh 3-pointer in the Feb. 25 game against the Lady Tigers in Gym 1 of Candler. Villanueva scored 28 points in the 76-61 victory over St. Philip’s. Photo by E. David Guel

Guard’s seven 3-pointers gives this college a 76-61 victory over St. Philip’s College.

By Jose Arredondo

sac-ranger@alamo.edu

The Rangers took on St. Philip’s Feb. 26 in Gym 1 of Candler in a game that featured a season high in points for the Rangers.

In addition to the 3-pointers, communications sophomore Shannon Villanueva finished the game with 28 points, three assists and six rebounds for the Rangers.

“This game, I tried to not mentally defeat myself like the last,” Villanueva said. “So this game, I pushed through the mistakes I made, and we came out with the win.”

Liberal arts freshman Alexis Russell led the Tigers with 18 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

Premedical sophomore Sara Hancock puts up a shot over nursing sophomore Ashley Flores and kinesiology sophomore Desiree Contreras during the first half of Wednesday’s game. Photo by E. David Guel

“We played well in the first half,” Russell said. “We were out of sync offensively and defensively, and the scoreboard projected that.”

The Tigers outrebounded the Rangers 55-47. However, the Tigers committed 25 turnovers to the Ranger’s 15.

Villanueva’s seven 3-pointers edged the total for the entire St. Philips’ team six.

“Once I made my first few buckets, it was on,” Villanueva said.

The first half consisted of five lead changes, three ties and 21 turnovers.

The Rangers maintained the lead going into halftime, 33-25.

The second half the Rangers had the Tigers defense bamboozled and led by as many as 16.

“You wanted to run a zone, but they keep scoring,” St. Philip’s coach Eckart Watts said to his players during a timeout. “We are going to have to switch to man-to-man defense, and if you get burned, you get burned.”

The Rangers never looked back and won 76-61.

Next week, the Rangers will go on the road to take on Victoria College at 6 p.m. March 4 in the VC Sports Center gym in Victoria.